Granulated or cane sugar. You can get this at any supermarket, in the baking aisle. Potassium nitrate (also known as “saltpetre”). You can get this at any home improvement store or big box store (like Home Depot or Walmart). If you’re not sure what to look for, ask an employee for a stump remover product. [1] X Research source A soda can. 4 to 5 inches of cotton string, for your fuse. Scotch tape. A lighter or match.
Soap and water to clean your can. A pair of scissors to cut the can in half. A 1/4 cup measuring cup to measure out your ingredients. A pot or frying pan to cook your ingredients in. A towel or oven mitten to shield your hand from the heat. A spoon, whisk, stick, or another object to mix ingredients. A stovetop to heat and cook your ingredients on.
Before you start mixing and cooking your ingredients, grab your soda can. Clean it out using soap and water. Then, cut it in half using your scissors. Break up any clumps you see in the potassium nitrate powder. Run it through a sifter if you have to. Pre-measure out your ingredients. You want to measure about 3 parts potassium nitrate for every 2 parts sugar. That’s ¾ cup of potassium nitrate and ½ cup of sugar total. You can put them in small bowls or containers for now. [2] X Research source
You can mix your ingredients before pouring them in, or pour them in individually from the presorted containers you kept them in. They don’t need to be poured into the pan in any particular order. Mix the ingredients together as you’re pouring them into the pan, using a spoon, wire whisk, or some other mixing tool.
Toss, roll, or otherwise remove the grenade from your hand immediately after lighting it to avoid smoke inhalation.
For this variation, you will want a ratio of 9 parts potassium nitrate for every six parts sugar for every 1-part baking soda (9:6:1).
